Care funding cuts and rising costs put older people’s health in jeopardy

Published: 08/10/2015

A perfect storm of underfunding and rising costs threaten to put older people’s health in jeopardy. Indeed the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that 1.3 million older and disabled people received state-funded support last year, down by 500,000 over four years.

Social care providers and council leaders are warning of grave problems to come in the care home sector whilst the National Care Association found that almost three out of four providers were very concerned about their ability to continue in business.

Tension is heightening as the outcome of the Spending Review is awaited with the majority of responders to a National Care Association survey feeling unable to pay the National Living Wage of £9/hour by 2020 unless there is a substantial increase in the funding paid by commissioners.

Lee Baker, Head of Care Home Fees comments:

“The funding crisis is threatening the very existence of Care Homes – and at a time when the ageing population is placing increasing demands on their services. Many older people reading about this looming crisis will be anxious about how they will be cared for, should they suffer from a serious illness.

“To reassure them, anyone who needs nursing care because of a primary health need should have that care funded by the Clinical Commissioning Group. There are a number of conditions which give rise to a primary health need and many of these are the serious illnesses of old age, they include, dementia, Alzheimer’s, a stroke, having a history of heart attacks or suffering diabetes.

Content correct at time of publication